Vertical dam



June 2, 1970 .1. R. sTRoM 3,514,907

VERTICAL DAM Filed April 17, 1967 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 JdH/VE 6780/14 INVENTOR.

A 7 ZZZ/14 V June 2, 1970 J. R. STROM 3,514,907

VERTICAL DAM Filed April 17, 1967 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 JUH/V Z 55. 0/14 $6 6: a L INVENTOR.

June 2; 1970 J. R. STROM 1 VERTICAL DAM Filed April 17, 1967 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Ea J],

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June 2, 1970 J. R. STROM 3,514,907

VERTICAL DAM Filed A ii 17, 1967 e Sheets-Sheet a ZZZ Jam/z 5/?5/14 I N V E N TOR.

A ffdfA/fy United States Patent 3,514,907 VERTICAL DAM John Rutledge Strom, Fullerton, Calif., assignor to Sweco, Inc., a corporation of California Filed Apr. 17, 1967, Ser. No. 631,229 Claims priority, application Great Britain, May 4, 1966,

19,653/ 66 US. Cl. 51-163 26 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to vibratory finishing, grinding, polishing and deburring machines such as those which comprise an annular bowl or helical trough filled with a mass of work media and which are caused to vibrate to accomplish their intended funtion. More particularly, this invention relates to a novel machine and method for unloading the charge of parts and media from such a device and for Separating the parts from the media.

Vibratory finishing vessels in which a charge of relatively abrasive media is caused to operate on a part to be finished are known in the art and illustrated by such U.S. Pats. as 3,100,088; 3,266,739; 3,268,177 and 3,161,993. These may consist of a generally toroidal bowl in Which the parts and media are caused to vibrate in order to finish or deburr the parts.

Conveying, removing, handling and separation of parts and media from or in vibratory finishing machines is a continuing problem in the industry. It is highly desirable, to save labor costs, to provide methods and equipment which minimize the amount of manual handling which is required. To accomplish this, the vibratory finishing vessel must be specifically constructed to handle parts and media as Well as to impart vibratory finishing motion to the work mass. In practice, one of two methods has been used to achieve parts and media handling in vibratory units.

In one method, parts and media may be conveyed in a general vertical plane by various devices includuing one in which the entire vessel is rotated upward in an arc. Parts and media are thus deposited on an integral machinemounted screen for separating purposes, during which period media is dropped to and retained in a special chamber vertically adjacent to the finishing chamber for reintroduction to the finishing vessel after the separation cycle.

In the other method, the configuration of the finishing vessel may be such that the handling of parts and media is in a horizontal fashion. A vessel having a spiral or circular ramp construction can thereby conduct parts and media to a sufiicient elevation to make possible installation of a parts-from-media separation facility within the confines of the circular vibrating vessel and by this linkage obtain on a horizontal plane conveyance and separation of parts and media within the finishing vessel while maintaining the orbital vibrating mass action employed in finishing the work piece.

Neither of these methods is a complete solution to the handling problem, particularly because they cannot be easily applied to the circular bowl or toroidal bowl finishing machines.

The present invention has for one of its objects the provision of a component which can be introduced to standard vibrating vessels, that is U shaped or trough type 3,514,907 Patented June 2, 1970 ICC tube, circular or annular bowls or any vibrating vessel in which simultaneous lateral and vertical movement of the finishing mass can be induced, including spiral bowls or helical troughs.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a component which utilizes pressure from the combined lateral and vertical movement of the mass in conjunction with its vibrating characteristics, to cause the media and parts to elevate and transfer to a separating device.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a novel method of finishing parts in vibratory finishing mill and unloading the parts separate from the media without separating the two by hand.

In the drawings accompanying this specification FIG. 1 is a cross section view of a vibratory finishing mill in accordance with this invention,

FIG. 2 is a partial cutaway view showing a modification of the device shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a cross section view of still another embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 4 is an overall cross sectional view of still another embodiment of the invention in which a vertical weir is retractable through the mill bottom;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a device similar to that shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional view through the line 66 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross section through the line 77 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a partial cutaway in cross section through the line of 88 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 7 with the movable screen in a lowered position;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 8 with the port and screen in their lowermost position;

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of the vertical weir and assembly in partial cutaway taken through the line 1111 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of still another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view in partial cutaway through the line 1313 of FIG. 12; and

FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of the vertical weir of the invention.

The above and other objects of this invention are in part accomplished by a vibratory finishing mill comprising: a base, a container for receiving media and parts to be finished, said container forming a channel, means for resiliently mounting said container on said base, vibratory means for imparting relatively high frequency vibrations to said container, and weir means associated with said container and arranged generally perpendicular to said channel.

When employed in the finishing of parts, the above generally described device can perform a process for finishing a part in a vibratory finishing media comprising causing said part and said media to vibrate in a container forming a channel, and interposing a vertical weir member in said container and thereby controlling the movement of said parts and said media. The process may be modified by providing an adjustable weir member to control the height of parts and media in front of and behind the weir. A preferred embodiment of the process of this invention comprises causing the parts and media to climb vertically upward along the dam or weir and then catching the parts on a screen which allows the media to fall back into the finishing mill, thus separating the parts from the media. If the screen is suitably attached to the mill, the vibration of the mill causes the parts to be discharged therefrom, as will be fully described in detail below.

A preferred form of the finishing mill of this invention comprises a finishing mill wherein the finishing container is a toroidal bowl and is caused to vibrate by a Vertically mounted double eccentric weight motor having the eccentric weights at the top and bottom of the motor shaft. In operation, the amount of weight in the eccentrics may be varied and the angle between the weights can also be varied to control the motion and mode of vibrations imparted to the media and parts.

In one form of the invention, the weir or dam may be removable from the finishing mill, whereas in another form, the weir may be permanently affixed to the interior of the mill. In still another and preferred embodiment of the invention, the weir or dam may be disposed below the chamber and may, when desired, be moved into position in the mill chamber by manual, automatic or semi-automatic means as described in greater detail below.

When a screen is used as a separating means for removing parts from the finishing mill free of the media, the screen may be permanently affixed adjacent the upper part of the weir (when the weir is in its raised position) or the screen may be insertable into the mill either manually or automatically. It is also preferred to provide guide means in connection with the screen to facilitate vibrational removal of the parts from the mill along the screen.

The device of this invention for utilizing mass pressure in a finishing vessel to obtain integral media and parts handling and separation is a vertical member positioned completely across the width of the finishing vessel or parallel to a vertical cross section of the vessel. However, the vertical member may also be located at any angle across the channel or width of the vibrating chamber. More than one vertical member positioned across a finish ing vessel at various points along its length may also be used, providing the vibrating mechanism such as eccentric weights and/ or the machine design are capable of inducing lateral mass movement simultaneously with vertical mass rotation and vibration throughout the vessel.

In order that the efliciency and capacity of the vibratory finishing mill of this invention be in an optimum range, the vertical member positioned across the finishing vessel should be at least /2 the total height of the finishing chamber itself. In fact, heights of greater than /2 the effective height of the finishing chamber are particularly preferred because the finishing etficiency and capacity of the mill are at a maximum under these circumstances.

The vertical member which may be better described as a dam, wall, or weir may be introduced to the vibrating vessel by various means and in various manners.

Manual handling would be one means of locating the dam in the vessel. An air or hydraulically-operated cylinder and piston would be another means of positioning it in the finishing vessel and, of course, a mechanical drive and linkage of some sort could also be used.

As for the manner of introduction to the vibrating vessel, there are a number of choices:

(1) The dam may be a permanent, internally mounted fabrication.

(2) It could be of a composite design with a moveable or retractable component held within an internally mounted fabrication which extends permanently for some distance into the finishing vessel. In this case, the moveable component would be better described as a blade.

(3) The entire dam or weir could be also removed and inserted from the top of the open finishing vessel.

(4) The dam may be introduced through a slot in either side of the finishing vessel.

(5) Finally, the dam or vertical wall may be introduced from the bottom of the bowl and be partially or fully retractable. -It could be hinged and retained within the finishing vessel and elevated by manual, air, or mechanical means to operating position. Better, the finishing vessel may be slotted in the bottom and the dam operated by air, mechanical or manual means to attain proper -Cir 4 position. Proper position is one which will cause mass and parts to elevate themselves to the screening mechanism.

The dam or wall itself may be of many designs, chiefly relating to various methods of adjusting its elevation as follows:

(1) It may be of a simple, slotted two-part construction providing a manual adjustment.

(2) It may have air or mechanically operated controls for altering discharge height.

Regardless of the arrangement employed, the basic concept of this invention is that a vertical member across a vibrating finishing chamber at any angle, but preferably parallel to the cross section, causes pressure to be exerted by the vibrating mass. However, the degree of pressure exerted is related to the type of finishing vessel employed, the manner in which vibration is induced, the manner in which the vibrating mechanism is attached to the vessel, and the manner in which the vibration-inducing mech anism or eccentric weights are adjusted. When pressure is exerted by the mass, vibrating media and parts are elevated by the dam or wall and are consequently discharged from the vibrating chamber, providing the height of the dam is correctly set in relation to the amount of lateral and vertical vibrating force being applied.

This invention provides a manual or mechanical or automatic means of not only causing parts and mass to discharge; but also for varying the discharge height of mass and parts since, depending on size, shape, type and weight; and media size, shape, type and weight and mass conditions; variable discharge heights are desirable for obtaining most efiicient mass discharge patterns and patterns most consonant with gentle parts handling characteristics. Such a variable height discharge device may work in conjunction with a variable height screen which can be manually or mechanically or automatically positioned to work in conjunction with the variable height dam.

An additional advantage of this invention accrues from the method of infinitely varying mass height over the range of the dam extension from a line which may be identical with the bottom of the vessel to full height as the case of the fully retractable bottom-fed dam. Thus height of mass can be varied in a vibrating vessel not only in the discharge operation, but also during process cycle. This is an especially important factor in the helical or spiral-shaped bowl which by reason of the gradient plane of the finishing bowl presents the mass at varying proximities to the eccentric weight assembly thus establishing somewhat variant mass movements along the length of the inclined plane. Three advantages of establishing various heights of mass in the spiral vessel during process by means of a moveable vertical dam or blade are as follows: To stabilize mass movement, to control movement of parts in the zone between the spiral discharge and charge points, and to promote optimum mass movement characteristics. The process height of the dam may also be permanently established as in the arrangement employing a blade'traveling through a permanent fabrication. Infinite process height adjustment as with a retractable blade is generally the preferred arrangement.

The pressure efiected by the vertical wall of this invention provides a superior and more precise method for handling media and parts and for discharging parts. Ramp type discharge configurations cause loss of effective media pressure and a'bafiling of vertical and orbital mass movement vectors which are instrumental in creating efficient vibrating mass discharge patterns.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a cross section view of a vibratory finishing mill which comprises an annular bottom tub 20 having a center post 21 and a vibrating unit 22 which is secured to the bottom of the tub 20 and which is fitted with eccentric weights 23 and 24. The entire assembly including the tub 20 and vibrating unit 23 is mounted on a ring of springs 25 which are attached to the base frame 26. The vertical dam is shown at 27 disposed across the entire cross section of the tub 20. In the operation of this mill, parts and media are caused to precess in a circular direction around the tub, as well as flow in a generally circular pattern from the center post to the outside of the tub 20 and back toward the center post.

As the material precesses around the tub it flows up and over the vertical dam or weir where finished parts may be separated from media. The action of the vertical dam is to create suflicient mass pressure to cause finished parts and media to elevate and be conducted to a separation device.

In FIG. .2 is illustrated a modification of the device shown in cross section in FIG. 1. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 the vibratory tub is likewise mounted on a circular ring of springs (not shown). The tub 30 has an annular bottom and a wide diameter center post 31 which may be hollow as illustrated. In the cutaway portion of the center post 3 1 is shown the top portion of the motor and eccentric weight assembly 32.

In the cutaway portion of the tube 30 is shown the 'vertical dam 33. The operation of the device is similar to that described for FIG. 1, but represents a preferred embodiment of the invention because of the flexibility in location of the motor and eccentric weight assembly.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is similar to that shown in FIG. 2 except that the motor and eccentric weight assembly 50 is shown mounted below the vibratory finishing unit which itself forms an annular chamber 41. The vertical dam over which media and parts flow as the finishing process is in operation is illustrated at 42.

In all cases the vertical dam positioned within the vibratory finishing mill has a height of about at least /2 the total height of the finishing chamber or more. This enables the apparatus to operate with a relatively high capacity and with high finishing efficiencies which are not obtainable when the vertical dam member has a height much less than /2 the effective height of the finishing chamber.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is illustrated a toroidal bowl finishing mill which consists of a circular base 101 having a lip 102 projecting from the upper portion thereof. Around the lip are mounted a ring of springs 103. Supported on the ring of springs 103, is the toroidal finishing bowl assembly which has a lower donut-shaped supporting plate 104 which is attached to thering of springs and a generally circular center column 105 which projects below the lower plate 104 to form a well for attachment of the motor 106. Gusset plates 107 are formed to support the entire assembly and center column and are positioned between the springs. The toroidal chamber 108 is formed by the upper portion of the center column side wall 105, the base plate 104 and the upper portion of the outer side wall 109. The toroidal chamber is lined, as shown at 110, with a suitable resilient material such as hard rubber or polyurethane. The motor is supported in the center column by support rings and a clamp assembly as shown generally at 111, and has upper and lower eccentric weights 112 and 113 attached to either end of the vertical motor shaft. The center column may be provided, with a cover 114 which may be aflixed to a cylindrical projection 115 of the center 105. Located across a radius of the toroidal chamber 108 is a vertical dam or weir 116 which, as illustrated, projects below the upper extremity of the lining 110. The weir is retractable through the bottom of the lower mill plate 104 and the lining 110 by an appropriate slot and is arranged to be raised and lowered in the slot by one or more air cylinders 117 and their associated pistons 118. The upper end of the piston 118 is aflixed to the upper surface 119, as illustrated, by the flange 120. The weir 116 is hollow so that when the pistons 118 are retracted into the air cylinder 117, the weir moves downward and covers a portion of the air cylinders 117. The notched portion 121 is to allow the weir to retract to cover the air cylinder support structure 122 so that when the weir 116 is fully retracted, it is approximately level with the bottom mill lining 110. During ordinary finishing operations, the weir 116 is held below its maximum upper level and may be as low as flush with the bottom portion of the mill. When the finishing cycle is completed, air under pressure may be applied to the air inlet hose 123 to force the pistons 118 upwardly so that the weir moves to its uppermost position in the chamber. The height of the weir 116 at is uppermost portion may be controlled by the bracket and stop arrangement 124 and the depending adjustable bracket and lug 125. When the weir is in its uppermost position, the parts and media are caused to climb up the upstream side of the weir and fall on to a screen so that the parts may be separated from the media, the media falling back into the chamber 108 while the finished parts are removed from the apparatus.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is illustrated a plan View of a device according to this invention similar to that shown in cross section in FIG. 4. The toroidal finishing chamber is shown generally at 151 and the upper eccentric weight 152 is illustrated at the top of the motor 153. The vertical weir 154 is illustrated in its raised position and there is a screen structure 155 for separating parts and media as they spill over the weir 154. When the weir is in place, the level of the parts and media tends to raise above the tank top flange 156; and thus is provided a freeboard ring 157 which projects above the flange 156 to prevent the parts and media from spilling from the chamber 151. The screen structure 155 has elevated side walls 158 and 159 to prevent the parts from spilling either back into the chamber 151 or over the tank top flange 156. The screen 155 terminates in a discharge trough 160 which projects through a cutaway portion of the finishing chamber as is more clearly illustrated in FIGS. 6 through 10. The screen 155 and its supporting side walls 158 and 159 are supported on the pistons of air cylinders (or hydraulic cylinders) 161 through the arms 162. When the weir 154 is retracted and the mill employed in a cycle of finishing operations, the screen 155 is raised to an elevated out of the way position by the air cylinders 161. This is to enable the cutaway portion or port to be closed so that the height of the finishing chamber may be more eflfectively utilized. This is shown in detail in FIGS. 6 through 10.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the screen structure is illustrated in its elevated position showing the discharge chute 160 at a position above the tank top flange. The pistons 163 on the air cylinders 161 are elevated so that the screen is out of position for discharging parts and returnmg media to the mill chamber. The discharge port 164 is in its upper or closed position, having been moved to that position by actuating the port closure cylinder 165. As illustrated in FIG. 6, there are closure stops 166 to limit the downward movement of the port when the port is open.

In FIG. 8, there is shown a side cross section through the line -88 of FIG. 6 illustrating the detail of the port closure in the closed position with the screen assembly elevated. In FIG. 8, the piston 167 is in its uppermost extended position and the closure 164 prevents the parts and :rnedia from spilling from the mill. A hinge 168 is provided in conjunction with the piston 167 and a hinge plate 169 on the closure 164. Similarly, a second hinge 170 is fash- 1one d from the hinge plates 171, the hinge pin 172 and the retammg assembly 173. This arrangement enables the closure 164 to move radially downward on the hinge pin 172 as a fulcrum and yet enables the piston 167 to travel freely into the cylinder 165. It is to be noted that the piston is canted at an angle from the vertical to enable the piston to move freely.

FIG. '7 is a View through the line 7-7 of FIG. 5 in cutaway. The weir is in its lowered position and not shown, but the view illustrates the mounting means 181 for the weir. The freeboard 157 and screen sidewall 159 are shown in their relative positions with the screen in its raised position. Thus, the piston 163 projects at about its maxi-mum length above the cylinder 161 and the screen 155 does not interfere with the finishing operation of the mill. In FIG. 7, the arrow 182 indicates the direction of the parts and media during the finishing operation.

FIGS. 9 and 10 represent views similar to FIGS. 7 and 8 except that the weir 154 is illustrated in its elevated position and the screen 155 in its lowered position with the piston 163 retracted into cylinder 161. The top portion 186 of the weir is coated with a resilient material such as hard rubber or polyurethane and has a notched portion 187 at the trailing or downstream edge so that there is little or no resistance with the travel of parts and media over the weir onto the screen 155. The direction of travel of the parts and media up and over the weir is indicated by the arrows 188 and 189. When the parts and media flow onto the screen, the media flows through the screen as shown by the arrow 190 and the parts continue to travel along the screen due to the vibration of the mill.

In FIG. 10, it is additionally illustrated that the port or closure 164 is in its lowered position against the stop 166 with the piston 167 retracted into the cylinder 164, the port having moved outward and downward around the hinge pins 172 and the hinge 168. The screen 154 and discharge ramp 160 are in their lowered position as also indicated in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 represents an overall cross section of a weir assembly according to this invention in one of its embodiments. As illustrated, the weir (indicated generally by the reference numeral 191) has a hollow portion 192 with the two cylinder pistons 193 projecting to near the top of the hollow portion and aflixed through bolts 194 to a U-frame 195 through the threaded portions of the distal ends of the pistons 193. The weir 191 is shown in its raised position in the mill, the top 196 of which is indicated in the view. The weir is coated on the sides, ends and top with a resilient coating such as polyurethane as indicated at 197. The coating covers an elongated, inverted, U-shaped channel member 198 to which the shorter inverted U-shaped member 195 is attached through a series of bolts 199 into a holding block 200 which is attached to the member 195. This arrangement, including the void area 201 in the resilient coating of the weir 191, enables the air cylinder 202 and piston 193 arrangement to be mounted in and removed from the weir conveniently. When the weir is in its fully retracted position, the exterior ends of bolts 199 are exposed so that the entire U-member 195, piston 193 and cylinders 192 can be removed from the weir 191. The entire weir assembly is provided with adjustable stop members indicated generally at 203 in which a block 204 contacts a flange 205 on the upwardly projecting arm 206. When the weir 191 is in its retracted position, it covers the air cylinders 202. The cylinders 202 are fitted with air inlet and discharge means for raising and lowering thereof. To raise the pistons 193, air is admitted to the tubes 207 and allowed to escape from the tubes 208, the inlet portions of which are on the back side of the view illustrated in FIG. 11. Conversely, to lower the weir 191, air under pressure is admitted through the tubes 208 and released from the tube 207 so that the piston travels downwardly in the cylinder 202.

FIG. 11 also illustrates the operation of the movable screen and discharge ramp assembly which is shown in phantom including the air cylinders 209, pistons 210 and mounting arm 211. The screen and ramp assembly is shown generally at 212 in its raised position above the weir. The tank top flange 215 and tank lining 213 are provided with holes 214 to facilitate movement of the pistons 210 therethrough.

FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate an alternate embodiment of the invention in which the finishing chamber 221 takes the form of an upwardly extending helix while being generally toroidal in cross section. The direction of the movement of parts and media is indicated by the arrow 222. The weir 223, which is retractable as above described, is shown in its raised position and is located at that portion of the mill chamber where there is a transition from the high point of the helix to the low point giving rise to a generally vertical portion 224 of the bottom of the mill. The mill chamber may be provided with a freeboard ring 225 immediately upstream of the weir 223. A seal 225 may be provided upstream of the weir to prevent the leakage of liquid through the chamber 226. When the weir 223 is in its raised position, the movable screen 227 is lowered in place by the action of the air cylinder assemblies 228 which comprise air cylinder 229, the piston 230 and the arm 231, one of which is shown in phantom in FIG. 13. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the screen is in two sections, removable section 227 and a fixed section 232 including the discharge ramp 233. Because of the location of the vertical drop in the mill bottom, the parts and media in that section of the chamber covered by the screen section 233 are generally never so high as to require that that portion of the screen be raised. Thus, an indented portion 234 may be provided in the wall of the mill chamber for discharge of the parts over the ramp 233. The screen 232 has raised side walls 235 to prevent parts from spilling back into the mill chamber 231.

There is shown around the center column in FIG. 5 and 236 in FIG. 12) a pipe sparger (FIG. 12, 237- FIG. 5, 149) which can be attached to the source of finishing liquid for spraying liquids into the mill.

The device shown in FIG. 12 is, of course, also equipped with a motor 238 mounted in the center column 236 and equipped with eccentric weights shown at 239 for imparting the vibrational energy to the mill chamber which causes the finishing of parts in the presence of finishing media.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged cross section of the weir 154 of FIGS. 5 through 10 in one of its embodiments. As indicated, the top portion is coated with a resilient material 186 and is notched along its entire central portion as illustrated by the reference numeral 187. At the ends nearest the side walls, the notch tapers up toward the upper surface 240. As indicated above, this notched portion 187 is to enable the parts and media to easily flow over the weir and also to provide a simple means for matching the top of the weir on its travel upward with the trailing edge of the screen as it moves down into position. Although the top of the weir and the level of the screens are shown at varying positions in FIG. 13, it is generally preferred that the top surface of the weir and the screen level be at substantially identical heights in the mill chamber during the unloading operation. However, these positions can be varied slightly as illustrated in FIG. 13.

While particular embodiments of this invention have been shown and described, it is not intended to limit the same to the exact details of the construction set forth and it embraces such changes, modifications and equivalents of the parts and their formation and arrangements as come within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A vibratory mill comprising a base,

a container for receiving media and parts to be operated upon within said container, said container forming a substantially toroidal channel having walls,

means for resiliently mounting said container on said base,

vibratory means for imparting vibrations to said container,

weir means for said container arranged generally perpendicular to said walls of said channel, and

means coupled to the walls of said channel forming a guide for retaining said weir means within said channel between said walls thereof and for allowing said weir means to be selectively moved up and down in said channel with respect to the bottom thereof.

. A vibratory mill comprising base,

a container for receiving media and parts to be operated upon within said container, said container forming a channel having walls, said channel having an opening in the bottom thereof,

means for resiliently mounting said container on said base,

vibratory means for imparting vibrations to said container,

weir means for said container arranged generally perpendicular to said walls of said channel and being mounted with respect to said channel for selective movement into and out of said channel through said opening, and

means coupled to said channel forming a guide for retaining said weir means within said channel between said walls thereof, and for allowing said Weir means to be selectively moved into and out of said channel.

3. A mill as in claim 2 including mechanical means coupled with said weir means for moving said weir means into and out of said channel.

4. A mill as in claim 3 including stop bracket means coupled with said weir means for limiting positioning of said weir means within said channel to a predetermined height.

5. A vibratory mill comprising a base,

a container for receiving media and parts to be operated upon within said container, said container forming a channel having walls,

means for resiliently mounting said container on said base,

vibratory means for imparting vibrations to said container,

weir means for said container arranged generally perpendicular to said walls of said channel,

means coupled to said channel forming a guide for retaining said Weir means within said channel be-- tween said walls thereof and for allowing said weir means to be moved up and down in said channel with respect to the bottom thereof for selectively positioning said weir means within said channel, and screen means disposed adjacent said weir means for receiving parts and media cascading over said weir means onto said screen means for separating the parts from the media, said screen means allowing media to return to said channel and parts to be discharged from the mill. 6. A mill as in claim 5 wherein said screen means includes operator means for moving said screen means to a first position in which it is inefiective to separate parts from media and for moving said screen means to a second position in which it is substantially adjacent to the top of said weir means for receiving and separating parts from media.

. A vibratory mill comprising a base,

a container for receiving media and parts to be operated upon within said container, said container forming a substantially toroidal channel having walls and having a bottom with an opening therein,

means for resiliently mounting said container on said base,

vibratory means for imparting vibrations to said container for causing media and parts to move through said channel,

weir means for said container arranged generally perpendicular to said walls of said channel and being movable into said channel through said opening, and

means coupled with said channel forming a guide for retaining said weir means within said channel between said walls thereof to form a selectively positionable dam in said channel.

8. A vibratory mill comprising a base,

a container for receiving media and parts to be operated upon within said container, said container having a central portion defining an inner wall and an outer wall, said walls forming a substantially toroidal channel having a bottom, said bottom defining a plane,

means for resiliently mounting said container on said base,

vibratory means for imparting vibrations to said container for causing media and parts to move through said channel, said vibratory means comprising a source of rotary motion having a shaft, said shaft having upper and lower weights mounted thereon and said shaft being positioned substantially coaxially with respect to said central portion of said container, and said upper weight being mounted substantially adjacent said plane defined by said bottom,

Weir means for said container arranged generally perpendicular to said walls of said channel, and

means coupled with said channel forming a guide for retaining said weir means within said channel between said Walls thereof to form a selectively positionable dam in said channel.

9. A vibratory mill comprising a base,

a container for receiving media and parts to be operated upon within said container, said container forming a channel having walls, said channel having an opening in the bottom thereof,

means for resiliently mounting said container on said base,

vibratory means for imparting vibrations to said container for causing media and parts to move through said channel,

weir means for said container arranged generally perpendicular to said walls of said channel, said weir means being mounted with respect to said channel for selective movement into and out of said channel through said opening, and

means coupled with said channel and forming a guide for retaining said weir means within said channel between said walls thereof to form a dam in said channel extending at least half way from the bottom to the top thereof for allowing parts and media to cascade over the top of said weir means.

10. A finishing mill as in claim 9 including mechanical means mounted below said channel and coupled with said weir means for moving said weir means into and out of said channel.

11. A mill as in claim 9 including screen means disposed adjacent said weir means when said weir means is moved into said channel, said screen means serving to receive parts and media cascading over said weir means onto said screen means for separating the part from the media, said screen means allowing media to return to said channel and parts to be discharged from the mill.

12. A mill as in claim 11 wherein said screen means includes operator means for moving said screen means to a first position in which it is ineffective to separate parts from medeia and to move said screen means to a second position in which it is substantially adjacent to the top of said weir means for receiving and separating parts from media.

13. A mil'l as in claim 12 wherein said operator means comprises cylinder and piston means coupled between said screen means and said container for selectively moving said screen means to said first and second positions.

14. A mill as in claim 11 wherein said container includes a closure member coupled with an outer wall thereof, and said screen means includes a discharge member for discharging parts from said mill, and

mechanical means coupled with said closure member for opening said closure member when said screen means is moved to a position in which it is substantially adjacent to the top of said weir means for receiving and separating parts from media and discharging parts from said discharge member.

15. A vibratory finishing mill comprising a base,

a container for receiving media and parts to be finished, said container forming a channel having a bottom with an opening therein,

means for resiliently mounting said container on said base,

vibratory means for imparting vibrations to said container, and

weir means for said container for selectively forming a dam in said channel, said weir means being selectively movable into and out of said channel through said opening in the bottom thereof.

16. A vibratory finishing mill as in claim 15 including means coupled with said weir means for allowing selective positioning of the top of said weir means at a predetermined level within said channel.

17. A vibratory finishing mill comprising a base,

a container for receiving media and parts to be finished within said container, said container forming a channel having a bottom and side walls, said bottom having an opening therein,

means for resiliently mounting said container on said base,

vibratory means coupled with said container for imparting vibrations to said container,

weir means coupled with said container and arranged to be moved into and out of said channel through said opening in the bottom of said channel, and

operator means mounted below said channel and coupled with said weir means for moving said Weir means into and out of said channel.

18. A finishing mill as in claim 17 including bracket means coupled with said weir means for limiting positioning of said weir means within said channel to a predetermined height.

19. A finishing mill as in claim 17 including screen means coupled with said container for receiving parts and media cascading over said weir means when said weir means is positioned in said channel, said screen means including control means for moving said screen means to a first position in which it is ineffective to separate parts from media and for moving said screen means to a second position in which it is substantially adjacent to the top of said weir means in an upper position thereof for receiving and separating parts from media.

20. A finishing mill as in claim 17 wherein said operator means includes a piston and cylinder assembly coupled between said weir means and said container, said piston and cylinder assembly being actuatable remotely from a pressure source to raise and lower said weir means.

21. A finishing mill as in claim 17 wherein said channel is arcuate and has a centerline, and a plane is defined by the bottom of said channel, and

said vibratory means comprises a rotary source having a rotatable shaft, said shaft being mounted substantially coincident with said centerline, and said vibratory means includes upper and lower weights afiixed to said shaft, said upper weight being positioned substantially adjacent said plane.

22. A vibratory finishing mill comprising a base,

a container for receiving media and parts to be finished within said container, said container forming a substantially toroidal channel having a bottom and side walls, said side walls being substantially parallel at least at the upper extremities thereof,

means for resiliently mounting said container on said base,

vibratory means coupled with said container for imparting vibrations to said container,

Weir means for said container for selectively forming a dam in said channel, and

mounting means on said side walls for guiding the weir means into and out of said channel.

23. A vibratory finishing mill as in claim 22 including mechanical means coupled between said weir and said container for allowing remote actuation of said weir means and movement thereof into and out of said channel in an opening provided in the :bottom of said channel.

24. A vibratory finishing mill as in claim 23 wherein said mechanical means comprises a piston and cylinder assembly coupled between said container and the top of said weir means.

25. A vibratory finishing mill as in claim 23 wherein said weir means comprises a member having upstream and downstream sides and a space therebetween for allowing said weir means to extend around said mechanical means when said weir means is moved downwardly through the opening in the bottom of said channel.

26. A process for finishing a part in a vibratory finishing mill with a media comprising,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1963 Balz 51163 3,161,993 12/1964 Balz 51163 3,400,495 9/1968 Balz 5l163 FOREIGN PATENTS 959,849 6/ 1964 Great Britain. 986,184 3/ 1965 Great Britain.

HAROLD D. WHITEHEAD, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

